Liturgy

We live among so many
distractions, even good ones.
We often don’t notice you.

Gracious God, extend us your quiet
and your stillness, so that we have
space to find you.

We are quick to rely only on ourselves,
To be consumed by our worries and our
problems. We often ignore you.

Compassionate God, grant us your peace.
Take our burdens and make them light.

Give us true rest on this Sabbath day,
that we may find calm in the midst of our
anxiety and joy in the midst of our pain.

We pray in the name
of God the Creator,
of Christ the Redeemer,
and of the Holy Spirit, the Breath of Life.
Amen.

(Gina Bastone-Trevino)

Scripture

We invite you to hear from the gospel of Matthew 11:16-19.

16 “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,
17 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.’

18 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”,

The Good News of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.

Homily and Reflection

Homily Podcast – Who is Jesus? 7.09.2023

What have you been told about who Jesus is?

What have you studied about who Jesus is?

What expectations do you have about who Jesus is?

Benediction

Lift up your eyes to receive the benediction.

Leave this morning with less than you had.
Walk away a little easier. Breathe a little deeper.
Carry yourself a little lighter.

Know that what is left is supposed
to be there. Christ carries it as well.
And what has been left, is left. Let it go.

Open your eyes to the new moment you are in.
You do not walk it alone, but in the company
of the One who knows and loves you.

Be renewed in the name of
God the Source,
Christ the Redeemer,
and the Holy Spirit, our Breath of life.
Amen.

(Naomi Jackson)

[ Photo by Birgith Roosipuu ]